Oregon conference

First, I’m near the end of my own abilities to prepare a manuscript. After writing seriously for well over a decade, I’m pretty sure that at least something I’ve written is worth publishing. That doesn’t mean anyone’s running off to pay me, but maybe someone should (if for no other reason than to keep my fading shell of self-esteem from cracking completely).

The conference is designed to get folks like me to the next step. I hope to not only learn something, but to meet a few people who can point me in the right direction.

Second, my dear friend Chuck Palahniuk will be there. Now, Mr. Palahniuk has no idea that we’re friends. For all I know, he’s happily oblivious to my existence. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been a friend to me, both through his books and his example of being an encouraging and generous writer.